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The emb genes are conserved among different mycobacteria. In Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, they belong to an operon comprising three genes, embC, embA, and embB. The EmbB protein has been proposed to be the target of ethambutol, a drug which is known to inhibit the synthesis of the arabinan portion of the mycobacterial cell wall arabinogalactan (AG). To further define the role of EmbB protein in arabinan biosynthesis, embA, -B, and -C genes were inactivated individually by homologous recombination in M. smegmatis. All three mutants were viable, and among the three, the slowest growing embB(-) mutant encountered profound morphological changes and exhibited a higher sensitivity to hydrophobic drugs and detergents, presumably due to an increase in cell wall permeability. Furthermore, chemical analyses showed that there was a diminution in the arabinose content of arabinogalactan from the embA(-) and embB(-) mutants. Specifically, in comparison with the wild-type strain, the crucial terminal hexaarabinofuranosyl motif, which is a template for mycolylation, was altered in both embA(-) and embB(-) mutants. Detailed nuclear magnetic resonance studies coupled with enzyme digestion, chromatography, and mass spectrometry analyses revealed that the disaccharide beta-d-Ara(f)-(1-->2)-alpha-d-Ara(f) extension from the 3-position of the 3,5-linked alpha-d-Ara(f) residue is markedly diminished. As a consequence, a linear terminal beta-d-Ara(f)-(1-->2)-alpha-d-Ara(f)-(1-->5)-alpha-d-Ara(f)-(1-->5)-alpha-d-Ara(f) is formed, a motif which is a recognized, nonreducing terminal feature of lipoarabinomannan but not of normal AG. Upon complementation with the embB and embA wild-type genes, the phenotype of the mutants reverted to wild-type, in that normal AG was resynthesized. Our results clearly show that both EmbA and EmbB proteins are involved in the formation of the proper terminal hexaarabinofuranoside motif in AG, thus paving the way for future studies to identify the complete array of arabinosyltransferases involved in the synthesis of mycobacterial cell wall arabinan.

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The hly-encoded listeriolysin O (LLO) is a major virulence factor secreted by the intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, which plays a crucial role in the escape of bacteria from the phagosomal compartment. Here, we identify a putative PEST sequence close to the N-terminus of LLO and focus on the role of this motif in the biological activities of LLO. Two LLO variants were constructed: a deletion mutant protein, lacking the 19 residues comprising this sequence (residues 32-50), and a recombinant protein of wild-type size, in which all the P, E, S or T residues within this motif have been substituted. The two mutant proteins were fully haemolytic and were secreted in culture supernatants of L. monocytogenes in quantities comparable with that of the wild-type protein. Strikingly, both mutants failed to restore virulence to a hly-negative strain in vivo. In vitro assays showed that L. monocytogenes expressing the LLO deletion mutant was strongly impaired in its ability to escape from the phagosomal vacuole and, subsequently, to divide in the cytosol of infected cells. This work reveals for the first time that the N-terminal portion of LLO plays an important role in the development of the infectious process of L. monocytogenes.

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Ethambutol [EMB; dextro-2,2'-(ethylenediimino)-di-1-butanol] is an effective drug when used in combination with isoniazid for the treatment of tuberculosis. It inhibits the polymerization of arabinan in the arabinogalactan and lipoarabinomannan of the mycobacterial cell wall. Recent studies have shown that arabinosyltransferases could be targets of EMB. These enzymes are encoded by the emb locus that was identified in Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycobacterium leprae, Mycobacterium avium, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We demonstrate that a missense mutation in the M. smegmatis embB gene, one of the genes of the emb locus, confers resistance to EMB. The level of resistance is not dependent on the number of copies of the mutated embB gene, indicating that this is a true mechanism of resistance. The mutation is located in a region of the EmbB protein that is highly conserved among the different mycobacterial species. We also identified in this region two other independent mutations that confer EMB resistance. Furthermore, mutations have recently been described in the same region of the EmbB protein from clinical EMB-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates. Together, these data strongly suggest that one of the mechanisms of resistance to EMB consists of missense mutations in a particular region of the EmbB protein that could be directly involved in the interaction with the EMB molecule.

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The inbred nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse spontaneously develops an autoimmune diabetes, which is now recognized as an experimental model for human type I insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The autoimmune reaction, specifically directed against pancreatic beta cells (insulitis), involves both macrophages and T lymphocytes. The study of the production of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase derivatives of arachidonic acid metabolism shows that in some conditions, and in particular in the presence of zymosan A, macrophages from NOD mice produced significantly more 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) than macrophages from age- and sex-matched C57BL/6 mice. Moreover, zymosan A-stimulated macrophages from NOD females produced significantly more LTC4 than did macrophages from NOD males. These results may be of interest, given the bidirectional relationship between the various cytokines involved in the destruction of beta cells of the islets of Langerhans and different eicosanoids.

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The authors report their studies on the cross-reactivity of certain anti-DNA antibodies with polypeptides expressed on the membrane of different cell types. These lupus associated membrane proteins (LAMPs) could play an important role in the pathophysiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) since anti-LAMP antibodies have been found in renal eluates of MRL/lpr/lpr mice and in the serum of patients with active SLE.

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Antibodies against a cell-surface protein, cross-reactive with double-stranded DNA, were detected in the serum of 25 patients with active human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), defined on the basis of the revised American Rheumatism Association classification. Among these sera, two did not display anti-DNA antibodies, as shown by Farr assay, solid-phase radioimmunoassay, and Crithidia luciliae test. Five other SLE patients were consecutively studied in active and remission states. Antibodies against the protein were detected in the serum of the 5 SLE patients when they were in active phase but not in the serum of the same patients in inactive phase of the disease. The anti-protein antibodies were not found in the serum of 10 inactive SLE patients or in the sera of 10 normal human controls, 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 5 patients with scleroderma, and 4 patients with primary sicca syndrome. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that antibodies against this cell-surface protein could provide a better diagnosis marker and activity index than anti-DNA antibodies in SLE.

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A murine monoclonal anti-DNA antibody, PME77, with specificity for double-stranded DNA, has previously been shown to react with a protein(s) present at the surface of such cells involved in lupus pathogenesis as human glomeruli, T and B lymphocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets. Mild elastase treatment of lymphoid cells from non-autoimmune (CBA/ca or BALB/c) mice releases a series of crossreactive polypeptides (34, 33, 17, 16, and 14 kDa) recognized by PME77. These polypeptides are not formed after treatment of the same cells with papain or trypsin. When lymphoid cells from autoimmune [MRL-lpr/lpr or (NZB X NZW)F1 B/W] mice are treated with elastase, trypsin, or papain, PME77 detects, in all supernatants, a single polypeptide of about 55 kDa. Antibodies present in the sera of autoimmune MRL-lpr/lpr and B/W mice and IgG eluted from kidneys of MRL-lpr/lpr mice react with the same polypeptides. Neither sera nor eluted IgG of normal BALB/c mice react with these polypeptides. These results suggest that an altered cell-surface protein(s), which we call LAMP [for lupus-associated membrane protein(s)], may be involved in lupus pathogenesis.

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A murine monoclonal anti-DNA antibody, PME77, spontaneously produced in autoimmune B/W mouse, has been shown to react with a protein present at the surface of several cells involved in lupus pathogenesis. We have called this cell-surface protein LAMP (Lupus Associated Membrane Protein). Mild elastase treatment of lymphoid cells from non autoimmune (BALB/c or CBA/ca) mice releases five polypeptides (34, 33, 17, 16 and 14 kDa) recognized by PME77. These polypeptides are not found after treatment of these cells with papain or trypsin. When lymphoid cells from autoimmune mice (MRL/lpr/lpr and B/W) are treated with elastase, trypsin or papain, PME77 detected in all supernatants a single polypeptide of 55 kDa. It is demonstrated in the present work that: (1) this 55 kDa polypeptide is also detected in the elastase supernatant of glomeruli from MRL/lpr/lpr and B/W mice but not from BALB/c and CBA/ca mice. These results suggest that LAMP expressed at the surface of lymphoid and glomerular cells from lupus mice displays altered sensitivity to proteases. (2) The change in sensitivity to proteolytic enzymes appears between 1 and 3 weeks after birth in MRL/lpr/lpr mice. Such modifications might results in the appearance of a non-self antigen and elicit an anti-LAMP immune response.

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In previous work, a murine monoclonal anti-DNA antibody (PME77) with specificity for double-stranded DNA has been found to bind five polypeptides (34, 33, 17, 16, and 14 kDa) that are expressed at the surface of several human cell types involved in lupus pathogenesis. To determine more precisely the nature of the antigens recognized by the PME77 monoclonal antibody, and to release cell-surface-accessible fragments, we used a mild, controlled elastase treatment. We isolated several of these polypeptides by immunoaffinity chromatography. A polyclonal antibody was prepared by immunizing a rabbit with a mixture of these polypeptides (17, 16, and 14 kDa) adsorbed on nitrocellulose. This antibody was shown to react with 17-, 16-, and 14-kDa polypeptides. This antibody does not bind to double-stranded DNA, suggesting that most of the immunogenic determinants of these polypeptides are not shared by double-stranded DNA. Of six human systemic lupus erythematosus sera tested, all contained antibodies that recognized this cell-surface protein(s) and crossreacted with double-stranded DNA. We suggest that this protein(s) be called LAMP [lupus-associated membrane protein(s)].

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An anti-idiotypic antiserum was prepared in a rabbit immunized against a pool of six monoclonal anti-DNA antibodies generated in B/W mice. This antiserum detected idiotypic determinants in four of the six monoclonal anti-DNA antibodies but also in the serum of several non autoimmune strains (BALB/c, NZB X BALB/c) F1 hybrids & CBA/LH). The antiserum also reacted, but only to a weak degree, with B/W mouse sera. These results indicate that some idiotypes of anti-DNA antibodies produced by autoimmune B/W mice are present in normal mouse sera.

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We recently demonstrated that a monoclonal anti-DNA antibody, spontaneously produced in lupus B/W mice, recognizes the same protein(s) at the surface of several human cell types involved in lupus pathogenesis including normal human erythrocytes, normal platelets and rat neuronal tissue. This cell-surface protein(s) cross-react(s) with double-stranded DNA. We suggest to call this protein(s) LAMP [lupus associated membrane protein(s)]. Here we show that: immunoglobulins eluted from kidneys of autoimmune MRL/lpr/lpr mice strongly react with LAMP. Anti-LAMP antibodies are present in large amount in MRL/lpr and B/W mice sera. Anti-LAMP are present in 25 out of 25 human SLE sera ranged as SLE on the basis of revised American Rheumatism Associated classification. Interestingly, two of these sera did not display anti DNA anti-body activity. Taken together, these results strongly suggest a role of LAMP in the pathogeny of SLE.

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A monoclonal anti-DNA antibody PME77, spontaneously produced in autoimmune B/W mice, has been found to recognize identical protein(s) present at the surface of several human cell types involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus: glomeruli, platelets, erythrocytes, T and B cells, and neuronal tissue. Data indicate that protein(s) could represent a major stimulus or the target of anti-DNA autoimmunity and could account for tissue lesions observed in this disease.

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A study of the caryotype in 281 cases of male secretory sterility. Chromosomal anomalies were found in 81 cases, i.e. 78 cases, of azoospermia, 3 cases of oligospermia. Barr bodies were found in 66 cases of Klinefelter syndrome or one of its varieties. In the remaining 15 cases, there was no Barr chromatin: 7 of them bore gonosomal abnormalities with or without mosaicism. In 8 cases reciprocal translocations were found: in 2 of them a sexual chromosome was involved. The high rate of chromosomal anomalies should be stressed: every male secretory sterility, especially with azoospermia, warrants a chromosomal study. In the group of translocations, FSH and LH rates are not elevated in spite of the existence of azoospermia, whereas they are consistently increased in all the other chromosomal abnormalities: this so far undescribed phenomenon has no present explanation. The role played by translocations in male secretory sterility, although difficult to understand, is well documented, since translocations occur ten times more frequently in male sterility than in the general population.

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